Boris Nemtsov received death threats in social networks - assistant

February 28, 2015, 9:23 UTC+3YAROSLAVLA statement for the police was filed after one such episode, Olga Vakhrina said

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YAROSLAVL, February 28. /TASS/. Co-chairman of the RPR-Parnas party and Yaroslavl city duma deputy Boris Nemtsov had been receiving threats in social networks for several months prior to his death, Nemtsov’s assistant Olga Varkhina told TASS on Saturday.

"Boris Efimovich received threats in social networks. A statement for the police was filed after one such episode," Vakhrina said. "It happened at the end of 2014, maybe at the end of autumn, I cannot recall the exact date now," she added.

However, she said she does not know about "any direct threats from Yaroslavl residents or Yaroslavl officials." "I am confident there could not have been any," Vakhrina said.

She ruled out the version that Nemtsov’s murder was an act of jealousy. "Boris Efimovich was very diplomatic and tactful. As far as I know, he had wonderful relationship with his children and ex-wives. I saw it for myself more than once. I think that jealousy has absolutely nothing to do with this tragedy," Vakhrina stressed.

"Half of his time was taken by the issues in the Yaroslavl region, another half was dedicated to problems of national level and international affairs, as he was a co-chairman of RPR-Parnas," she said.

"He managed to do everything. Everybody in Yaroslav feels uneasy now. Last night, I received words of support from hundreds of absolutely different people and politicians," Vakhrina added.

NEMTSOV SHOT DEAD IN MOSCOW

Russian opposition and state figure Boris Nemtsov, was shot dead in downtown Moscow overnight to Saturday with four shots from a handgun from a passing car, law enforcement agencies said.

According to preliminary data, an unknown assailant made a few shots at Nemtsov when the latter was walking along the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case into the killing under articles 105 (murder) and 222 (illegal arms turnover) of the Russian Criminal Code.

An investigation is underway. An investigative group is working at the site.

Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Yelena Alexeyeva said Saturday six bullet cartridges had been discovered at the site where Nemtsov had been killed. "Six cartridges have been found at the site. Four bullets hit Boris Nemtsov," Alexeyeva told journalists.

A law enforcement source said the murderer of Nemtsov had been spying on him.

Alexeyeva said manhunt activities were underway. "Nemtsov was walking with his female acquaintance who had arrived from Ukraine. They were strolling from St. Basil’s Cathedral toward the Bolotnaya Square," she said.

Investigators are currently questioning the woman who was walking side by side with him at the moment of the murder, but her identity is not disclosed in the interests of investigation.

Senior aide to the head of the Main Investigative Department in Moscow Yulia Ivanova told TASS investigators are considering all versions when probing into the murder and do not rule out it was a contract killing.